TicketsMOREHEAD, Ky. — The University of Cincinnati volleyball team fell to Michigan State in straight sets on Friday at Johnson Arena. The Bearcats dropped to 5-3, while Michigan State's record remains unblemished at 7-0.
UC was led by Sydney Nolan, who recorded 10 kills, six digs and a block. Nolan’s 10 terminations marked her fifth double-digit outing this season.
The Spartans outhit the Bearcats with 42 kills on a .364 hitting percentage, while holding Cincinnati to 29 kills on a .122 hitting percentage. MSU also led in service aces (9-2), digs (37-32) and blocks (9-2).
Michigan State saw two reach double figures in kills: Karolina Staniszewska had 12, and Alanna Bankston had 10 kills on a .529 clip. Its frontline was held down by Zora Hardison, who posted seven blocks.
The opening set was tightly contested from the start, with the score tied 11 times and only three lead changes, as neither team led by more than two points. Michigan State held a narrow 15-13 edge at the first media timeout. The Spartans started to pull away, using a 5-1 run to garner a 21-16 advantage. Consecutive kills from Ligia Williams and Nolan cut the deficit to 21-18, but Michigan State was able to take the set 25-20.
After the Bearcats claimed a 3-0 lead to open the second set, a 9-1 run allowed the Spartans to take control with a 9-4 lead. Terminations from Andrea Simovski and Nina Scrucca trimmed the deficit to 11-9. A kill from MSU's Staniszewska moved the ticker to 17-12, and the Spartans would cap the set with an ace to win it 25-17.
Michigan State came out fast in the third, taking a 5-0 lead. A trio of points by the Bearcats — highlighted by a Scrucca ace — trimmed the discrepancy to 6-4. MSU would counter with a 9-1 spurt to take a 15-5 advantage. The Spartans would go on to take the third set 25-14 to claim the contest.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati returns to Clifton to host Ball State on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m., inside Fifth Third Arena. Later in the week on Friday, Sept. 18 at 6 p.m., the Bearcats will take a short trip north to take on crosstown rival Xavier at the Cintas Center.
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